Film buffs take note: this year's Fresh Film Festival takes place in Ennis and Limerick from April 19th to 22nd.

The main event of the festival is the Irish Schools Film Competition, which gives a platform to film-makers aged between seven and 18.

Jayne Foley, the festival's director, has watched young film-makers come into their own since the competition began, eight years ago.

"We have always had a huge interest from teenagers in the film competition, but easier access to cameras and to editing applications on computer means that young people are starting even earlier to make films."

The festival's main objective is to give young storytellers the impetus to use film and video as a medium. Many of the world's best-known directors and producers started as children. Steven Spielberg made his first film on his father's Cinecam, at the age of 12.

Film-making is not just for the starry-eyed, however. Making a film and working with the language, technology and conventions of film give us a more critical understanding of the film and television products that we consume so heavily.

The theme of this year's festival is secrets; audiences can watch films such as Siddiq Barmak's acclaimed Osama and the French drama La Haine.

The festival committee has created study guides to accompany each feature film, and all supporting material is available on the festival website.

A series of workshops on animation and music-video production will also take place during the festival.

Almost 70 shortlisted films will be screened as part of the Irish Schools Film Competition.

Fresh Film Festival runs from Apr 19 to Apr 22.

The Irish Schools Film Competition takes place at Glór arts centre, in

Ennis, on Apr 19. Details from www.freshfilmfestival.net